Emeralds’ hitters remain silent after 8-2 series-opening loss to Spokane

July 23, 2024 – Northwest League (NWL)
Press release from Eugene Emeralds

EUGENE, OR — In the months leading up to it, the fragility of the MiLB season seems more abstract, with each game representing an equal 1.32 percent of the season. When you’re in the thick of the competition, tomorrow’s game eclipses any real finality.

Until the end comes, or is closer – and then, for most, all that remains is “if only.”

If only Eugene had been sharper early in the season, if only it hadn’t taken him so long to find his offensive rhythm. If only the Emeralds had held their own better against Vancouver and Spokane.

If only they had been a little luckier, a little better — in a sport as scrappy as baseball, a bounce here and there can translate into a multitude of wins or a winning streak.

If only they had more time.

With the end of the season fast approaching, the Emeralds played the first game of their third-to-last home game of the year, losing a playoff game, 8-2 to Spokane.

The Emeralds (44-46) are seven games back of Spokane and are now two games out of second place. The club will play five more home games before heading out on a two-week trip to Vancouver and Everett.

The Emeralds were in position to move up the playoff standings, they weren’t second coming into the game. But after this loss – the team’s third in four games – the only thing they can be sure of is a general malaise as the season continues to unfold.

Heading into Tuesday’s game, the suspense was palpable. It started with the announcement that key players Diego Velasquez and Matt Higgins had been promoted to AA Richmond. The suspense continued when Vaun Brown was sent to Eugene for a pre-game rehab assignment.

Wilkelma Castillo flirted with a bounce-back outing but ultimately fell victim to past health issues. He gave up two walks in the third inning — after blanking Spokane in the first two innings — then allowed a three-run home run to Jesus Bugarin to punctuate the damage.

Castillo gave the Emeralds an early boost early, facing the minimum 22 pitches over the first two innings. But nothing compared to the Indians’ power barrage, as the team hammered Eugene with a multitude of hits.

But ultimately it was Eugene’s offense that doomed the team, as Spokane starter Sean Sullivan threw five trouble-free one-run innings, his funky left-handed hitting giving the Emeralds all sorts of fits.

Sullivan finished with 10 strikeouts, reaching double digits for the third time this season. Rolling out four pitchers and adding just five hits wasn’t the way the Emeralds wanted to return to PK Park for their home debut after the All-Star break.

Short jumps

Bryce Eldridge and Tanner O’Tremba are both sporting new beards.

It’s very hard to see the ball in left field at PK Park. Eugene’s first runner of the day came on an error by Alex Suarez that the Spokane outfield had no chance of seeing.

A bat removed from the batter by a hit by Jake Snider remained stuck in the first base netting for an extended period. A five-man crew, led by in-house announcer Andrew Brown, was needed to free the wood.

#RootedHere

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